Understanding Drug and Alcohol Relapse and How to Prevent It

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For 1-year outcomes across alcohol, nicotine, weight, and illicit drug abuse, studies show that more than 85% of individuals relapse and return to drug use within 1 year of treatment.” Now, yes, these are pretty staggering statistics. However, it is important to see these statistics as a sign that there needs to be a paradigm shift rather than become resigned to the reality of them. Part of this shift can occur by better understanding what is known as the “three-part illness” of addiction.

Drug and Alcohol Relapse: Understanding the “Three-Part Illness”

There is a concept in recovery that breaks down addiction into three components. Hence, the label: the three-part illness. These three parts are the “mental obsession” (as previously referenced), the “physical allergy,” and the “spiritual malady.” All three of these components work together in a type of symbiotic relationship to keep someone unwell in active addiction. They can also lead to a relapse. 

When someone with AUD or SUD takes a drink or a drug, it triggers what is known as the physical allergy. This means that when someone starts drinking or using, they cannot stop on their own free will. As is often said, “One is too many, and a thousand is never enough.” This physical allergy is what can extend a relapse. But, a relapse starts in relationship to the other two parts of the “illness.”

When someone feels emotionally, mentally, or spiritually unwell in recovery, this can be a dangerous sign that a relapse may be right around the corner. This is because those feelings arise when an individual is no longer focused on their recovery plan or personal well-being. They are no longer connected. This must be addressed as soon as possible to avoid a potential relapse.

How to Best Prevent a Drug and Alcohol Relapse

One of the best ways of avoiding a relapse is by staying connected to others, and more specifically, others in a recovery community. This connection not only gives people an outlet for which they can express their struggles openly and honestly, but it also keeps them accountable for their recovery plan.

Also, this allows for a critical component of recovery known as “service.” Service is when one individual in recovery helps someone new to recovery with their current struggles. There is even a chapter about it in the primary text of 12-Step recovery (known most commonly as the “Big Book”) entitled Working With Others. 

The chapter explains, “Practical experience shows that nothing will so much insure immunity from drinking [or using] as intensive work with other [people in recovery]. It works when other activities fail.” The other aspect of this concept of service is that helping someone else with their problems makes it impossible for them to think of their own. This is often referred to as “getting out of your head.”